(Left) Attendants of a patient undergoing medical treatment at a hospital in Dibrugarh seen cooking at the rundown kitchen of Nagaland House, Dibrugarh. Nagaland House, Dibrugarh lacks basic amenities expected by patients, their attendants and travelers from Nagaland. (Right) Interior of one of the two rooms at Nagaland House, Dibrugarh that remain locked throughout the year as it get inundated during rainy days.
Mokokchung | September 25 : Dibrugarh located in upper Assam is an important medical hub in the Northeast India region. Health care sector is growing aggressively in Dibrugarh and a number of private hospitals and clinics with specialization in urology, ophthalmology, cancer and psychiatry. Most of the clinics and hospitals in Dibrugarh are located in the Jalan Nagar- Paltan Bazar area.
Each year, many patients from Nagaland, especially from Mokokchung and the “Eastern” districts head to Dibrugarh for medical treatment. Unfortunately, they end up incurring more expenditure in fooding and lodging than in medical fees. Little do they know that there exists a Nagaland House in Dibrugarh established by a department of the Government of Nagaland.
Sadly, poor upkeep of Nagaland House, Dibrugarh belie its name and purpose of providing comfort to Nagas going for medical treatments or various other purposes to Dibrugarh. Though the Nagaland House is located at the busy Paltan Bazar, most Nagas travelling to Dibrugarh are not aware of its existence.
Nagaland House, Dibrugarh does not have the basic amenities needed by visitors or patients. It lies in a deplorable state ignored both by the Government as well as by the caretaker. Mr. D Hazakira (53) has been the Caretaker of Nagaland House, Dibrugarh for the past “twenty seven years” as per his claims. He receives a sum of rupees 5000 each month from PWD, Nagaland as salary. He put the blame on the State Government and the contractors for leaving it in such a disgraceful condition.
The eight double-bedded rooms in the house are without any furniture out of which one room is occupied by the caretaker, three rooms by Naga Students Union, Dibrugarh, two rooms for guests and the remaining two rooms remain locked all through the year as “it gets flooded during rainy days.” The two double-bedded rooms with a rundown kitchen and an unhygienic toilet and bathroom meant for guests are filthy and covered with cobwebs. The curtains haven’t been replaced since the year of its establishment and the broken electric boards dangle precariously in the rooms.
As stated by the caretaker, efforts were made to construct two more double bedded rooms a few years but the contractors left the project halfway through. Till today no efforts have been made to spruce up the place.
If only the Government of Nagaland for once look into the matter and take the necessary steps, Nagaland House, Dibrugarh would benefit hundreds of Naga patients and attendants, particularly those who are not financially well-off and face problems arranging for private accommodation at Dibrugarh. At the moment, Nagaland House is not inhabitable and therefore patients from Nagaland are found lodging at the nearby Mizo Guesthouse.
Interestingly, a top bureaucrat at the Home department of the government of Nagaland when inquired stated that they do not run a Nagaland House in Dibrugarh, though they do in Guwahati, Shillong, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai.
However, having known that there exists a ‘Nagaland House’ in Dibrugarh, though in shambles, this correspondent managed to contact a Junior Engineer of PWD, Nagaland. He clarified that the PWD (Estate) procured the land and building in the year 1994 and that “the Home department is supposed to take it up but it has not happened yet.” He also explained that there is no particular officer in-charge for Nagaland House, Dibrugarh, that it could not be maintained owing to lack of funds and that it is being managed by a caretaker whose salary is seldom paid on time.
Each year, many patients from Nagaland, especially from Mokokchung and the “Eastern” districts head to Dibrugarh for medical treatment. Unfortunately, they end up incurring more expenditure in fooding and lodging than in medical fees. Little do they know that there exists a Nagaland House in Dibrugarh established by a department of the Government of Nagaland.
Sadly, poor upkeep of Nagaland House, Dibrugarh belie its name and purpose of providing comfort to Nagas going for medical treatments or various other purposes to Dibrugarh. Though the Nagaland House is located at the busy Paltan Bazar, most Nagas travelling to Dibrugarh are not aware of its existence.
Nagaland House, Dibrugarh does not have the basic amenities needed by visitors or patients. It lies in a deplorable state ignored both by the Government as well as by the caretaker. Mr. D Hazakira (53) has been the Caretaker of Nagaland House, Dibrugarh for the past “twenty seven years” as per his claims. He receives a sum of rupees 5000 each month from PWD, Nagaland as salary. He put the blame on the State Government and the contractors for leaving it in such a disgraceful condition.
The eight double-bedded rooms in the house are without any furniture out of which one room is occupied by the caretaker, three rooms by Naga Students Union, Dibrugarh, two rooms for guests and the remaining two rooms remain locked all through the year as “it gets flooded during rainy days.” The two double-bedded rooms with a rundown kitchen and an unhygienic toilet and bathroom meant for guests are filthy and covered with cobwebs. The curtains haven’t been replaced since the year of its establishment and the broken electric boards dangle precariously in the rooms.
As stated by the caretaker, efforts were made to construct two more double bedded rooms a few years but the contractors left the project halfway through. Till today no efforts have been made to spruce up the place.
If only the Government of Nagaland for once look into the matter and take the necessary steps, Nagaland House, Dibrugarh would benefit hundreds of Naga patients and attendants, particularly those who are not financially well-off and face problems arranging for private accommodation at Dibrugarh. At the moment, Nagaland House is not inhabitable and therefore patients from Nagaland are found lodging at the nearby Mizo Guesthouse.
Interestingly, a top bureaucrat at the Home department of the government of Nagaland when inquired stated that they do not run a Nagaland House in Dibrugarh, though they do in Guwahati, Shillong, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai.
However, having known that there exists a ‘Nagaland House’ in Dibrugarh, though in shambles, this correspondent managed to contact a Junior Engineer of PWD, Nagaland. He clarified that the PWD (Estate) procured the land and building in the year 1994 and that “the Home department is supposed to take it up but it has not happened yet.” He also explained that there is no particular officer in-charge for Nagaland House, Dibrugarh, that it could not be maintained owing to lack of funds and that it is being managed by a caretaker whose salary is seldom paid on time.
